Hilton Garden Inn Hilton Head

Covenants that Restrict Everything

by grandmaR

People who own property on Hilton Head are not allowed to:
a) Park a pick-up truck on the island at their house
b) Have a garden in their yard
c) Paint the house except in a few mandated colors so as not to spook the deer or something. No red roofs allowed, even on the Red Roof Inn
d) Dry laundry outside.

The Hilton Head website remarks:
"All business’ signs are the same colors. Soft shades of tan, green, rose, and dusky blue are mostly the only colors allowed because Hilton Head prefers everything to blend into the environment instead of looking over-developed.

Personally I'd like to be able to find a restaurant or gas station without using binoculars.

Another problem with Hilton Head:
" There are more than 10 gated communities on Hilton Head Island, a handful more past the bridge to the mainland, and plenty of ungated neighborhoods scattered in between. A Hilton Head Island gated community is locally referred to as a plantation. Shipyard Plantation, Palmetto Hall Plantation Club, Wexford Plantation, Port Royal Plantation, and Hilton Head Plantation are some examples.

I'm not at all happy with the idea of gated communities. For instance to see Fort Mitchel, you have to get through community gate. To eat at a restaurant that is in one of the communities you have to go through a gate, and at least ONE gated community has a toll charge for all the cars that go through the gate.

Tennis and Biking

by grandmaR

Bike Trails are everywhere and most places on the island have bike rentals, and Tennis is apparently as much of a Hilton Head sport as Golf.

There are hundreds of courts all over the island, and Hilton Head is also home to two famous tennis pros: Dennis Van der Meer and Stan Smith. All three Grand Slam playing surfaces are available and there are lighted courts for night play.

Public courts
CLUB COURTS TELEPHONE
Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center 23 clay, 2 hard 8 lighted 843-785-1152
Port Royal Racquet Club 10 clay, 2 grass, 4 hard. 6 lighted 843-686-8803
Sea Pines Racquet Club 24 clay, 5 lighted 843-363-4495
Shipyard Racquet Club (Van der Meer) 13 Har-Tru, 4 hard, 3 indoor 843-686-8804
South Beach Racquet Club 11 clay, 2 lighted. 843-671-2215
Van der Meer Tennis Center 17 hard, 4 covered 800-845-6138

Two courts are available at the Fairfield Station County park on the north end, where Mi Tierra restaurant is. They are under the supervision of the Beaufort County Parks and Leisure Services.

Hilton Head High School has six courts and Hilton Head Middle School four more which are available weekend and evenings when school is in session and anytime in the summer. These courts have no user fee There are 8 public tennis courts on Hilton Head Island under the supervision of the Island Recreation Center and with the cooperation of Public Tennis, Inc. All are lighted for night play.

Four are at the Chaplin Public Tennis Center in the Chaplin Community Park and four more are at the Cordillo Public Tennis Center on Cordillo Road between DeAllyon Ave. and Pope Ave. These courts are intended for use by islanders.

From Memorial Day to Labor Day fees are charged for the use of these courts. They are open from 8:00 AM to 9:30 PM unless reserved for lessons or USTA use. For more information call Cameron Everett at 843-681-7273.

Bikes rent for about $27/week.

Waterfront Appeal--Harbour Town

by VeronicaG

Boat after boat docked at Harbour Town. Our family loved watching them--while I did a little shopping with the other gals, the guys kept an eye on the waterfront action. There was always something to interest them.

Our favorite restaurants at Harbor Town were the Crazy Crab--a great place to try She-Crab soup and The Quarterdeck--which offered a wide variety of choices that appealed to kids and adults.

Hilton Head - a mark of Southern hospitality

by aceensor

"Happy Hour and Appetizers!"

After settiling in at your "home base", set a path for Remy's just off the main highway after entering at the "toe" of the island. Here you can enjoy cold, inexpensive local beers and buckets of steamed oysters! Happy hour prices are ridiculously low and the food is fantastic! Hilton Head is an actual separate island, shaped like a high-top shoe. It is literally covered with eateries, golf courses and tons of shops.